Carriage mounted folding table and bench assemblages



May 17, 1960 P. BLINK ETA!- 2 CARRIAGE MOUNTED FOLDING TABLE AND BENCHAssmmmcss Filed Nov. 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TORS May 17, 1960P. BLINK L CARRIAGE MOUNTED FOLDING TABLE AND BENCH ASSEMBLAGES FiledNOV. 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTORS 777m A z'rm/vzys CARRIAGE MOUNTEDFOLDING TABLE AND BENCH ASSEMBLAGES Peter Blink, Milwaukee, andFrederick C. Holz, Wau-' watosa, Wis., assignors to MitchellManufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation "of WIS- consinApplication November '4, 1958, Serial No. 771,833

I 2 Claims. (Cl. 155124) This invention relates to improvements incarriage mounted folding table and bench assemblages.

For use in schools, assembly rooms and other large meeting places therehave heretofore been provided foldable table and bench assemblagesarranged, when not in use, to be folded into a Wall cabinet or otherenclosure. There is a need, however, for a folding table and benchassemblage which is not associated with a wall storage cabinet or thelike, but which, when in its folded condition, is portable and may berolled from a suitable storage room into another room for use and viceversa. It is, of course, essential that the table, when foldedvertically, be susceptible of passing through a standard doorway whileafiording maximum table and bench length when extended horizontally foruse.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a carriage mounted table and bench assemblagecharacterized by a caster or roller equipped central carriage which ismounted under the adjacent abutting ends of the table top and benchsections and is so associated with the same that each table top and itspair of associated bench sections may be folded vertically relative tothe floor engaging carriage, with each pair of bench sections beingprojected vertically substan tially adjacent the plane of its table topsection whereby the assemblage may be conveniently rolled to any desiredposition and stored inits vertically folded condition, or extendedhorizontally for usage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carriage mountedfolding table and bench assemblage wherein each table top section withits associated pair of benches may be folded relative to theintermediate common carriage independently of the other table topsection and its associated benches.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a carriage mountedfolding table and bench assemblage which is extremelyeasy to manipulatefrom its folded to its extended condition and in which the inner ends ofthe table top sections and benches are not hingedly connected togetherbut are hingedly associated with the supporting arms of the intermediatecarriage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a'carend leg structuredesignated generally by the numeral 2,936,820 Patented May 17, 9

scribed having a spring-loaded telescopic brace, automatically operatedmeans when the table and bench, assemblage is in operative, unfoldedcondition for limiting the telescopic movement of the brace andfordeterring overbalance and tipping of said table section.

A further objecct of the invention is to provide a carriage mountedfolding table and bench assemblage which is of very simple construction,which is strong and durable and rigid, which embodies a minimum numberof legs and braces, which is easy to collapse and roll away. for storagepurposes, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of theimproved carriage mounted folding table and bench assemblage, and itsparts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalentsthereof.

'In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

. proved carriage mounted folding table and bench assemblage in itsunfolded extended condition for use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the table with one top sectionand its adjoining benches folded to vertical position and the other topsection and adjoining benches in a partially folded position;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the carriage mounted folding table and benchassemblage in its folded condition with the table and bench sectionsprojected vertically relative to the carriage on which the same aremounted;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, with parts broken away and insection of the spring-loaded telescopic brace between an end legstructure and the inner end of a table top section; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on. line 5-5 of Fig.4;

The folding table which forms a part of the improved assemblage includesa pair of similar elongated table top sections 10 and 10, only one ofwhich will be described in detail. When the table is unfolded for usethe table top sections 10 and 10 are endwise alined. The undersurface ofeach table top section has secured thereto a pair of longitudinallyextending channel-like rails 11 between which are secured portions ofthe various sup-' porting legs, braces, etc.

Shiftably associated with eachlongitudinal side of a table is a benchstructure designated generally by the numeral 12. The outer end of eachtable top section and the corresponding ends of its pair of associatedbenches are, in operative unfolded position, supported by an outer 13.As will appear particularly from Figs. 1 and 2, a

riage mounted folding table and bench assemblage which, i

when in its vertically folded condition, disposes the top surfaces ofthe table top sections and benches inwardly and adjacent one another forprotection of such surfaces, with the leg and the brace mechanisms beingon the exterior of the folded assemblage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding table andbench assemblage of the character described wherein each table sectionand its associated benches, and the outer end foldable leg structuretherefor, has operatively associated therewith an elongated springloaded, telescopic brace which facilitates manual movement of the tablesections and associated benches to and from their folded verticalpositions.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a folding table andbench assemblage of the character deleg structure 13 includes a pair oflaterally spaced-apart bench supporting legs 14 joined near their outerends by a rigid transverse bar 15. The inner end of each benchsupporting leg 14 is integral with a T-head bar 16 whose end portionsare journaled for rotation in brackets 17 (see Fig. 2) which are mountedon the underside of the bench structure seats 18 adjacent spacedlongitudinal rails on the undersides of the seats 18 adjacent theirmargins. Similarly thevunder-surface of a table top section 10 or 10'adjacent its outer end has journaled in supporting brackets 20 theopposite ends of a transverse bar 21 which has afi'ixed thereto theinner ends of outwardly projecting arms 22. The pair of arms 22 for eachtable.

top section have pivotally attached thereto, as at'23, the

upper ends of legstructure braces 24 whose lower ends 22 and theirpivotal connections with the inner ends of the leg braces 24 the benchseats, 18 are restricted against projection above the upper ends of thevertically positioned table tops and align with the same, and the seatportions of the bench structures fold substantially into the planes ofthe table tops.

One of the characteristic features of the present folding table andbench assemblage is that a centrally located carriage, designatedgenerally by the numeral 25, is articulated with the inner end portionsof the pair of table tops and pairs of associated bench structures andforms a means for supporting the inner ends of said elements both in theoutstretched or operative condition of the folding table and benchassemblage and in the folded upright condition of the assemol ge.carriage structure 25 which carries floor-engaging wheels or casters 26may be rolled to a remote point for storage.

As will e seen from the drawings, the carriage structure 2,5 underliesand extends transversely below the adjoining inner ends of the table topsections and 14) and the bench structures 12. The carriage structure 25is formed at each end by a U-shaped member 27 and the transverselyspace-apart U-shapedmembers 27 are joined by a framework, the essentialelements of which will be enumerated hereinafter. At this point,however, it should be observed that the upper end portion of each sidearm of each U-shaped member 27 is pivotally connected, as at 23, withthe lower end portion of a stub rod 29 which is rigidly amxed to anddepends from the under surface of the end portion of the adjacent benchseat 18, providing means whereby the bench seats may swing in a verticalplane on the carriage members 27 form horizontal to vertical, and viceversa.

Rigidly affixed to and extending downwardly from the side arms of theU-shaped members 27 are caster carrying supporting legs 3%. Transversehorizontal struts 31 join the lower portions of the legs 30 of onecarriage U- shaped member 27 with the other member 27 and the lowerframework is completed by short struts 32 between the caster legs 3% andthe corresponding arms of the U- members 27 carrying the same. Extendingupwardly from intermediate portions of the carriage base struts 31 areposts 33, and the upper ends of a pair of posts on each carriage strut31 are joined by a top bar 34 on whose outer ends the closed lower endsof yokes 35 arepivotally mounted, as at 36.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the-transversely spacedapart pair ofyokes 35 supported from the left hand-strut 1 of the carriage 25underlie spaced apart inner' end portions of the table top section 10while the transversely spaced apart yokes 35 supported from the carriagestrut 31 toward the right, relative to Fig. l, underlie and supportspaced-apart portions of the table top section 10. The inner endportions of the under surfaces of the table top sections it? and 1%carry spaced apart transverse bars 37 and 37 to which the upper ends ofthe arms of the yokes are rigidly affixed. v

'From the description thus far, it will be evident that In the lattercondition the a elongated longitudinally directed bar 38 pivotallyconnected at its ends with the adjacent strut 32 and leg 14, as at 39and 4%, respectively. Through these pivotally connected bars 33 it willbe obvious that when the inner end of a table section and its associatedbenches are swung from horizontal toward vertical on the carriage 25,the bars 28 will cause the end leg structure 13 to which they areconnected, to fold against the under-surfaces of their table top sectionand benches, as in Figs. 2 and 3, and when the table is reversely movedfrom collapsed vertical position to outstretched horizontal position,

the braces 33 will project the end leg structures 13 to their verticalsupporting positions. 1 I

Each table top section lb and 16 has associated with the underside ofits inner end portion and its outer end leg structure 13, aspring-loaded telescopic locking brace indicated generally by thenumeral 41. As is shown in detail in Fig. 4, a spring-loaded lockingbrace 41 includes a pair of telescopically associated tube sections 42and 43, with the outer end of a tube section 42 being pivotallyconnected, as at 44, with a foot depending from an intermediate lowerportion of the leg structure 13. The outer end of the tube 43 ispivotally connected, as at 45, with an undcrsurface portion of the tabletop section it) or ill adjacent its inner end. Within the telescopicbrace 41 is a coiled spring 46 which is anchored at opposite' endswithin the outer extremities of the'tubes 42 and 43, respectively.

Reciprocatably straddling the'lower or outer end portion of thetelescopic brace 41 is a stirrup 47 to which is rigidly secured theouter end portion of a channel-shaped lever 48 which is intermediatelyfulcrumed on an upstanding lug on the top surface of the tube 42, as at49. The free end portion of the channel-shaped lever 48 carries adepending fixed pin 5% whicn, in the position of the parts shown inFigs. 1 and 4, projects through a local slot 51 in the tube and abutsthe inner end of the tube 43 to limit the telescoping movement thereof.

When the table section in question is in its outstretched horizontalcondition as in Figs. 1 and 4, the bottom surface of the stirrup 47 willcontact the floor and fulcrum the lever 48 slightly in a clockwisedirection to contact the free end portion of the lever 48 with thesurface of the tube 42 and project the pin 5t) through the slot 51 intolimiting engagementwith theend of the telescoping tube 41. This, ofcourse, keeps the tubes 42 and 43 from further telescoping and theengagement of the stirrup 47 with the floor or base gives added rigidityto the outer the outer end portion of each table top section and its endof the table section and stabilizes it against any tipping tendenciesdue to pressures which might be applied to other portions 'of theassemblage. However, when the table section and associated benchstructures to which the spring-loaded telescopic locking brace isapplied are to be folded from horizontal to vertical, the initialmovement of the outer end of the leg structure 13 upwardly will removethe stirrup 47 from contact with the floor and due to the fact that thestirrup 47 is weighted, it willtend to gravitate downwardly onto thetube 42 and swing the channeled lever 48 in a counter-clockwisedirection relative to Fig. 4, lifting the free end of the lever 48upwardly away from the tube 42 and removing the pin 50 from limitingcontact with the inner end of the tube 41. Hence, the force of thespring will then cause further telescoping of the brace tubes 42 and 43and the power of the spring will assist the manual movement of the tableand associated bench sections. The same is likewise true when the tablesection is swung from vertical position toward horizontal until thelocking stirrup contacts the floor to manipulate the lever 48 andlockingly engage the pin 50 with the projected inner end of the tube 43.

As shown in Fig. l, a pair of table sections and their companion benchstructures 12 may provide a continuous table and bench assemblage ofconsiderable length when the table top sections and bench structures arein grasped and the unit lifted upwardly, and the parts pivot including apair of endwise adjacent table sections with marginally disposed benchstructures, an outer end leg structure foldably connected to the outerend portion of 7 each table section and its bench structures, a carriageunderlying the adjacent ends of the table sections and having hingedlyconnected thereto the inner ends of the table sections and their benchstructures, in a manner so that each table section and its associatedbenches may be extended horizontally from the carriage or foldedvertically relative to the carriage, a spring loaded, telescopic braceunderlying each table section and pivotally connected at its oppositeends to an outer end leg structure about their connections with thecarriage structure 25.

The telescopic locking brace 41 forsaid section can, under the power ofits confined spring, telescope and transmit inward folding movement tothe outer end leg structure 13 to which it is connected. Ultimately thesection in question with its associated benches will assume the positionshown in Fig. ,2 with the bench seats 18 being substantially in theplane of the associated tabletop section 10. Due to the arms 22 theupper ends of the bench structure seats 18 will coincide 'With the upperend of the table top section 10. This folding of one of the isaccomplished independently of the folding of the other unit. The lattermay then be folded on the carriage 25' to the final vertical position ofFig. 3, passing through the intermediate position of Fig. 2.

In vertical storage position the folded units are very stable because ofthe fact that they are projected upwardly from the intermediatewheel-mounted carriage 25. The folded assemblage is compact and may beeasily rolled away to a suitable storage location. When the table is tobe used the reverse operation is performed after the table is wheeledout to the position of use.

From the foregoing description it will appear that the improvedcarriageenounted folding table and bench assemblage has the companiontable and bench sections foldably associated with anintermediatecarriage. Each table top sectiomand its associated pair ofbenches may be folded relative to the intermediate common carriageindependently of the other table top section and its associated benches.The outer end leg structures for each section have associated therewithnovel spring-loaded telescopic braces which automatically lock when thetable and bench sections are unfolded and aid in maintaining stabilityof the outstretched assemblage. The carriagemounted folding table andbench assemblage is easy to manipulate and move, is strong and durable,and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

a What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a portable folding table and bench assemblage and to the inner endportion of the table section respectively, a brace locking membermovably mounted on the brace, the inner end portion of the brace lockingmember carrying a stop engageable, in one moved position of the lockingmember, with the telescopic portions of the brace to limit telescopicmovement of the brace portions, and a floor engaging member fast ontheouter end of the locking member which, when engaged with the floor,

holds the locking member in a position to cause its stop to engage thetelescopic portions of the brace.

2. In a folding table and bench assemblage including a pair of endwiseadjacent table sections with bench structures in articulated associationwith each table section, a framelike carriage extending transversely ofthe adjacent ends of the table sections for hingedly supporting theadjacent ends of the table sections and their bench structures in amanner so that each table section and its associated benches may beextended horizontally from the carriage or folded vertically relative tothe carriage, said carriage including end U-shaped members andintermediate upright posts, yokes intermediately pivotally mounted onthe upper ends of said posts, the ends of each yoke being secured to theunder-surface of an inner end portion of a table section, the upper endportion of each arm of each U-shaped member of the carriage havingpivotally connected thereto an end portion of a stud red, the other endportion of each stub rod being secured to the under surface of an innerend portion of a bench structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS743,142 Brown Nov. 3, 1903 801,658 Fuller Oct. 10, 1905 1,655,516Simpson Jan. 10, 1928 2 ,685,487 Weller Aug. 3, 1954 2,708,961 MuglerMay 24, 1955 Nimmo' Oct. 29, 1957

